This annual awards program, presented by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Washington State Department of Transportation (WDOT), recognizes federally-funded local agency transportation projects that achieved excellence in safety enhancements, construction, innovative design, environmental sustainability, and community involvement. The award categories are: Best City Project, Best County Project, Best Special Project and the Director’s Award.

Best City Award: City of Deer Park – Crawford Avenue Phase V Reconstruction Project

Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding of $1.7 million, this project provides pedestrians and motorists safer access the central business district of Deer Park, as well as the surrounding parks and schools in the area. In addition to several other safety improvements, the city built a state-of-the-art roundabout, alleviating long backups that were only getting longer and more dangerous. This project is the last in a series of five, completing all planned improvements on Crawford Avenue from US 395 to the east city limits. Including the federal stimulus funding, the total cost of this project was $1.9 million.

Contact: Keith Martin, WSDOT Eastern Region Local Programs Engineer, 509.354.6080

Best County Award: Snohomish County – Sauk River Bridge No. 414 Replacement Project:

The Sauk River Bridge conveys Sauk Prairie Road over the Sauk River, a federally-designated Wild and Scenic River that is part of the Skagit River system. At 479 feet long, the new bridge is Snohomish County’s longest two-span, steel truss bridge. It replaces a bridge built in 1930 that had become both functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. It also meets the challenge of being an aesthetic match to the breathtaking natural surroundings. Funding for the project included Federal Bridge funding of $14.6 million, as well as Snohomish County contributions of $3.5 million.

Contact: Ed Conyers, WSDOT Northwest Region Local Programs Engineer, 206.440.4706

Best Special Award: City of Leavenworth – Icicle Station Project

The Icicle Station project re-established rail passenger service to Leavenworth, returning the area to a destination for freight, as well as rail passengers, providing immediate economic growth. The project consists of a 600-foot heated platform, two passenger shelters on the platform, parking and outdoor lighting on the site. Completion of these components permitted Amtrak Empire Builder service to Leavenworth, beginning in September of 2009, improving the Leavenworth community both socially and economically. Funding for this $1.3 million project included state and federal grants, as well as contributions from the City of Leavenworth, the Port of Chelan and private donors.

Contact: Paul Mahre, WSDOT North Central Region Local Programs Engineer, 509.667.3090

Director’s Award: Clallam County – Elwha River Bridge Replacement Project

This bridge replacement project includes a unique hanging pedestrian facility below the main road superstructure, which was one of the goals that came out of working closely with citizens and local businesses. Construction of the bridge met with significant challenges due to the extreme terrain, so with the creativity used on the under-bridge pedestrian walkway, this stronger, narrower road bridge was possible. This monumental project was completed on time and within budget. Funding for the $19.9 million project included Federal Bridge funding, as well as grants from the Board of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Washington State Recreation & Conservation Board, and Clallam County.

Contact: WSDOT Neal Campbell, WSDOT Olympic Region Local Programs Engineer, 360.357.2666

It all started with Palmer’s 76-yard kickoff return right out of the chute that set the table for Haueter’s 22-yard TD gallop.

 “We know you can’t always be at your computer to check travel conditions, so we are bringing our most popular travel information to your phone,” said WSDOT’s Jeremy Bertrand. “We’re offering our most important information that allows travelers to make decisions about when and where to travel, before they go.  As always, we’re reminding motorists to check before they get behind the wheel – don’t text and drive.”

With the new application, iPhone and Android users will have access to WSDOT’s Web-based travel information including:

• Ferries – schedules, travel alerts and routes
• Mountain passes
• Seattle traffic cameras
• Travel times for Puget Sound highways
• Canadian border wait times
• WSDOT Blog
• Twitter
• Flickr photos

To access these apps, just search for “WSDOT” in the Android Market or in the iTunes App Store.

For those who don’t have access to the new mobile application, WSDOT’s website provides travelers the information they need at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic  or by calling WSDOT’s travel information telephone system at 5-1-1.

Lake Wenatchee State Park was closed last week due to forest health issues and safety concerns for visitors. The park is 18 miles northwest of Leavenworth in Chelan County.

With reopening of the day-use area, the public is asked to stay out of all other areas of the park, as tree assessments and tree work continue. The areas of the park being reopened today include the watercraft launch, swim beach, group picnic area, equestrian area and concessions, including the horse concession and the food and snack concession on the swim beach.

State Parks arbor crews and a pathologist from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are working to correct problems in a limited camping area at the park early this week. Campsites 101 through 148 will be reopened on Thursday, Sept. 2, in time for Labor Day weekend camping. Those campsites are currently reserved; campers with reservations for those sites may make use of their reservations beginning Thursday, according to their current reservation dates. All other camping areas in the park remain closed at least through the end of the reservation camping season, Sept. 15, while tree work continues.

The Commission put an emergency closure in place for the entire park last week, due to forest health issues and safety concerns for park visitors. The Commission last week contacted all reservation campers by e-mail and telephone to notify them about the closure and to offer free alternative accommodations at parks in the greater region. Displaced campers with reservations will receive a full refund by calling (888) 226-7688. Those who make alternate reservations on their own will pay regular camping fees, minus the “change reservations fee” usually required. An emergency response center has been activated and displaced campers may call (360) 902-8560 for additional information.

Within a two-week span, two seemingly healthy trees fell in the south campground of the park. State Parks staff and a pathologist from DNR conducted an emergency assessment of the trees and concluded the failure was due to root rot that was not evident from outward appearances. Staff also conducted assessments on trees in the north and south campgrounds and found additional trees infected with root rot. These trees were immediately removed. The root rot has been identified in grand fir and Douglas-fir trees.

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a 489-acre camping park with 12,623 feet of waterfront on glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River. The park is bisected by the Wenatchee River, creating two distinct areas – South Park, with areas for camping, swimming and horseback riding; and North Park, in a less developed, forested section, a quarter-mile walk from the lake. The park has nearly 200 campsites (with a majority available for reservations), a group camp, equestrian area and hiking trails.

Washington State Parks is now on Twitter at WaStatePks_NEWS and YouTube at WashingtonStateParks.

(Wenatchee, WA)-Seven key members of the 2010 Wenatchee AppleSox championship team earned All-WCL honors. West Coast League President Ken Wilson announced the 2010 All-WCL teams Monday afternoon as voted on by member head coaches. The AppleSox led the West Coast League with six players named to the All-WCL First-Team. The team also had one player named to the All-WCL Second-Team.

First baseman Eric Peterson of Washington, third baseman Clayton Eslick of Gonzaga, utility man Trevor Brown of UCLA, outfielder Collin Bennett of Hawaii, starting pitcher Marco Gonzales of Gonzaga, and relief pitcher Jeff Ames of Lower Columbia College were named to the All-WCL First-Team. Starting pitcher Michael McIver of St. Martins was named to the All-WCL Second-Team.

Of the top eight vote getters in the entire WCL, four of them were from Wenatchee. Eric Peterson, Trevor Brown, Marco Gonzales, and Jeff Ames received the most votes for the AppleSox.

The WCL will announce its annual awards on Tuesday, September 7.

All-WCL First-Team
Outfield-
Michael Blake (Hawaii, Jr.-to-be), Corvallis Knights
Mitch Haniger (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Soph.-to-be) Corvallis Knights
Colin Bennett (Hawaii, Jr.-to-be), Wenatchee AppleSox
First Base-
Eric Peterson (Washington, Soph.-to-be) Wenatchee AppleSox
Second Base-
Tommy Richards (Washington State, Jr.-to-be) Bend Elks
Shortstop-
Bobby Joe Tannehill (Green River C.C. WA, Soph-to-be) Kitsap BlueJackets
Third Base-
Clayton Eslick (Gonzaga, Soph.-to-be) Wenatchee AppleSox
Catcher-
Chase Anselment (Washington, Soph.-to-be) Kitsap BlueJackets
Utility-
Trevor Brown (UCLA, Soph.-to-be) Wenatchee AppleSox
Starting Pitcher-
Dayne Quist (UC Davis, Jr.-to-be) Kelowna Falcons
Marco Gonzales (Gonzaga, Frosh-to-be) Wenatchee AppleSox
Kyle Kraus (Portland, Jr.-to-be) Corvallis Knights
Cody Fassold (Lewis-Clark State, Sr.-to-be) Bellingham Bells
Richie Mascheri (Western Illinois, Sr.-to-be) Kitsap BlueJackets
Relief Pitcher-
Jeff Ames (Lower Columbia College, Soph.-to-be) Wenatchee AppleSox
All-WCL Second-Team
Outfield-
Tyler Chism (Gonzaga, Sr.-to-be) Kelowna Falcons
Donald Collins (St. Marys CA, Jr.-to-be) Bend Elks
Nick Frederick (Pomona College, Sr.-to-be) Moses Lake Pirates
First Base-
Dylan Jones (Oregon State, Sr.-to-be) Corvallis Knights
Second Base-
Duncan Blades (Abilene Christian TX, Jr.-to-be) Moses Lake Pirates
Shortstop-
Matt Duffy (Long Beach State, Soph.-to-be) Corvallis Knights
Third Base-
Nate Roberts (Seattle, Soph.-to-be) Moses Lake Pirates
Catcher-
Elliot Stewart (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Jr.-to-be) Walla Walla Sweets
Utility-
Stephen Halcomb (Gonzaga, Soph.-to-be) Bend Elks
Starting Pitcher-
Michael McIver (St. Martins WA, Sr.-to-be) Wenatchee AppleSox
Dustin Emmons (UC Riverside, Sr.-to-be) Corvallis Knights
James Nygren (Oregon State, Sr.-to-be) Bend Elks
Ben Guidos (Washington, Sr.-to-be) Bend Elks
Chris Dennis (Portland, Sr.-to-be) Cowlitz Black Bears
Relief Pitcher-
Mitch Patito (UC Riverside, Soph.-to-be) Corvallis Knights
All-WCL HONORABLE MENTION
Bellingham: James Wise (Washington State), Cordell Greene (Des Moines Area CC), Ben Ruff (Tacoma CC), Chris Sturdivant (Gonzaga). Bend: Greg Davis (UC Santa Barbara), Andy Hunter (Gonzaga). Corvallis: Matt Boyd (Oregon State), Daniel Dillard (Western Oregon). Cowlitz: Kevin Bosson (Cal Poly Pomona), Jeff Gold (Oregon), Braxton Miller (Lewis-Clark State), Jordan Fox (UC Irvine). Kelowna: Jordan Westra (Sam Houston State), Ben Edelstein (UC Santa Barbara), Brian Wolfe (Washington). Kitsap: Andrew Mistone (UC Riverside). Moses Lake: Eric Yardley (Seattle), Austin Shackleford (Utah). Walla Walla: Joey Wagman (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Kevin Kuntz (Kansas), Dennis Holt (UCLA). Wenatchee: None.

 The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is ready to help. Don’t leave home this Labor Day weekend without the tools to avoid backups on one of the busiest summer weekends.

AAA projects close to 10 percent more Labor Day holiday travelers this year, so WSDOT encourages drivers to prepare and “know before you go.”

WSDOT lists on its website the times and places drivers will likely see Labor Day weekend delays, including US 2, I-90, I-5 at the Canadian Border and I-5 south of Olympia through Lewis County.

WSDOT predicts significantly better travel times in most areas on Wednesday or Thursday morning and on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Work at most construction sites around the state will move off the highways for Labor Day weekend. Even so, drivers should watch for shifted lanes, detours and reduced-speed zones.

WSDOT offers many ways to know before you go:

• Dial 511 – This driver information phone line provides current traffic, incident and closure information. TTY users can call 800-833-6388. Out-of-state callers can access the information at 800-695-ROAD (7623).
• On WSDOT’s travel website, www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic, drivers can see information such as camera images and maps showing highway incidents and closures.
• Go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/inform to see how WSDOT is using new tools to provide traveler information on social media (Twitter, Facebook) and for mobile devices. You can also sign up for specialized e-mail alerts.

On the road, WSDOT provides real-time traffic updates on overhead and roadside, electronic signs and on Highway Advisory Radio on AM channels 530 and 1610.

Travelers should also be aware:

• Washington State Ferries expects heavy holiday weekend. Ferry riders should consider traveling during off-peak times or prepare to wait, and they should check the schedules and ferry information on the Washington State Ferries’ website at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries or by calling toll-free at 888-808-7977.
• Amtrak Cascades is very popular on holiday weekends. Travelers are advised to purchase tickets in advance and arrive at the station early. Visit www.amtrakcascades.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for more information.
• Most public transit systems will follow a holiday schedule and some transit systems will not operate fixed route or Dial-A-Ride service on Labor Day. Check with your local transit agency for more information.
• Washington’s 16 state-operated airports are open for the season. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/airports/Amenities.htm or call 800-552-0666. WSDOT Aviation encourages pilots to check with their local Flight Service Station for current Notices to Airmen and temporary flight restriction status before each flight. To contact the Flight Service Station, please call 800-WX-BRIEF.  Temporary flight restriction information is available at: http://airspace.nifc.gov/mapping/nifc/index.cfm.

With those words, Chelan County PUD Commission President Dennis Bolz added his endorsement this morning to a resolution to accept a $25 million grant from the federal Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to help extend the PUD’s fiber-optics network to more remote areas of the county. All five commissioners voted in favor of the resolution, closely followed by a motion to begin the process of increasing PUD electric rates an estimated 2 to 4 percent to cover the financial gaps caused by extending the fiber build-out.

The financial concerns were raised because the grant also requires the PUD to cover 25 percent of the project costs for the build-out, estimated at about $8.3 million. But the PUD will also be responsible if there are cost overruns in completing the work within the three years allowed by the RUS terms and conditions. The build-out will extend service to an estimated 98 percent of the county.

In presenting his options to commissioners, PUD General Manager John Janney said he saw two alternatives if the PUD were to remain disciplined in its financial policies: 1) reject the grant and discontinue building the rest of the fiber system so expenses would be reduced; 2) accept the grant and set in motion the steps for an electric rate increase that would cover the financial shortfall.

Commissioners asked numerous questions about conditions in the grant before voicing their thoughts.

Commissioner Carnan Bergren moved to accept the grant. It was seconded by Commissioner Randy Smith, who began by thanking county residents for their active e-mails, phone calls, survey responses and full discussion of the pros and cons. The PUD did a scientific telephone poll last week to gauge community sentiment on the grant and potential rate increases of up to 3 percent. Results favored accepting the grant even with a rate increase.

The PUD also sent e-mails to more than 2,200 customers asking for their opinions, posted an online poll on its website, discussed the merits with community leaders, wrote a guest newspaper column and discussed the issue at regular board meetings and at a special meeting specifically for public comment on Tuesday night. Comments at that meeting were mostly against accepting the grant.

“We’re more than just electricity,” said Smith about comments from some that the PUD should focus more on its core business of providing electric service. He said there is a historic role for the PUD in serving the underserved. He doubted the wisdom of trying to sell the fiber system to another operator. “The people of Chelan County have been desperately asking for this for years,” he concluded.

Commissioner Bergren related a story of his youth working in the orchard with his father. When Bergren told his father that he only needed to pick the low-hanging fruit on the tree because it was easiest, his father made him finish the job. “I’ll hold the ladder,” his father told him at the time. “Now we have someone holding the ladder,” said Bergren, referring to the $25 million grant.

Commissioner Norm Gutzwiler said there is nothing free, including the federal grant. But he said he has faith the PUD staff can get the project finished as required. Responding to comments that some customers would now be subsidizing others, Gutzwiler said, “Every Tom, Dick and Harry out there that turns a light on is getting subsidized by someone else. It’s how we keep our rates low.” PUD surplus power sales help provide revenue to all PUD services, none of which cover their own costs.

Ann Congdon said the most compelling reason for her support of the grant is an ethical obligation. “We have to serve all our customers,” she said.

Bolz brought the board’s discussion to a close by referring to the PUD’s Mission Statement which includes the words, “to provide utility services that enhance the economy and quality of life in Chelan County.” He also referred to the new financial policies adopted by the board June 21 of this year and said, “It’s critical when you look your first tough financial decision in the eye that you don’t blink.”

Commissioners approved the motion to begin the rate-increase process. They will discuss details at their next regular meeting Sept. 7.